Tracking the Tigers with MLB.com beat writer Jason Beck.

April 26th, 2009

Back home for the Yankees series Monday after Robert Falkoff covered for me in KC, but I wanted to post an update on Dontrelle Willis and his rehab outing Sunday. He allowed two earned runs on three hits in six innings with three walks and six strikeouts, earning the victory in Erie’s 8-4 win over Harrisburg.

Willis threw 56 of his 92 pitches for strikes, but that’s actually a little deceptive, since there was a definite split in his outing. He was perfect through four innings, using just 43 pitches in the process, before a solo homer and back-to-back doubles led to a 31-pitch fifth inning (19 of those 31 pitches were balls). He reportedly threw first-pitch strikes to 13 of the 23 batters he faced.

Not sure how accurate the radar gun is at Jerry Uht Park, but Willis’ fastball supposedly ranged from 86-90 mph on the stadium readings. However, his breaking ball was supposedly pretty good.

As of now, it seems likely that Willis will make another rehab start, even though he’s stretched out from a pitch-count standpoint. UPDATE: Indications are that his next outing will be for Triple-A Toledo next weekend at Allentown, probably Friday.

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